Ainsworth has a minion!

Chise the Baby Phoenix

Chise took her child's hand and gently tugged.

"Come on, sweetie," she encouraged, "Don't you want to see Daddy?"

The child hesitated, looking around the overgrown forest uncertainly, but gave in to her mother's gentle tugging.

Chise could hardly believe she'd brought four children into this world.
This was her youngest, a daughter named Phoenix, named for the bird that adorned her magic wand.

All of Phoenix's siblings were older.
Thorn was their oldest son, and he was grown and out in the world, using magic to make a difference.
Their second, Fae, was still in school but had chosen to study abroad at a boarding school in Japan, out of interest for her mother's roots.
The third, Lin (who Elias begrudgingly agreed to name after Lindel) was still in middle school, but was considering dropping out in order to follow in his Uncle Lindel's footsteps and become the next Dragon Guardian. (Elias was proud, regardless of how crazy Lindel drove him about it.)

Phoenix had inherited Chise's blazing red hair and green eyes, but had horns that sprouted from above her ears and curled just like Elias' horns. She was only eight years old, and although she was quiet like her mother, she was gifted in magic and was casting spells that most eight-year-olds couldn't fathom.

They walked through the dense forest, following a trail that had almost been completely reclaimed by the underbrush, causing them to make plenty of noise each time they stepped on a dry twig or a bunch of fallen leaves.

The trail lead them upwards into the mountains, and deeper into the forest until they finally reached a clearing where the earth leveled out and the sun filtered through the branches of the surrounding trees enough to reflect off of the gently trickling stream that passed through.

"Here we are," Chise said, pulling Phoenix out into the light.
Phoenix blinked as her eyes adjusted to the shift in the light, and she looked around excitedly.

There it stood; the white marble tombstone covered in thorns. Chise let go of Phoenix's hand and watched as the child stepped carefully over the stream and walked over to the stone, her arms outstretched.
She reached the tombstone and began pushing aside the thorny vines that covered it, revealing the name Elias Ainsworth underneath.

Phoenix leaned onto the tombstone, pressing her forehead against it.
"Hi, Daddy."

Chise hung back, smiling sadly and remembering her beloved Elias as she watched their child. Chise raised her wand and gave it a small wave, causing the thorns to retreat from the stone enough so that Phoenix could get a better look without so much risk of getting poked by the thorns.

Chise had known that Elias was very old... but she'd always hoped that had meant he was immortal. He left this world for the next one shortly after Phoenix had been born, and Chise's chest tightened at the thought that he'd never really get to know his youngest child.

"Mommy?" Phoenix called, "Aren't you going to come say hi to Daddy too?"

"Of course, sweetie," Chise replied, stepping over the stream and approaching the tombstone.
She crouched in front of it, placing one hand on top for both balance and as a greeting, "Hi, Elias."

This was hard for Chise but she couldn't let herself break right now, not while Phoenix was with her and watching.

"Mommy, you really loved Daddy, didn't you?" Phoenix asked cheerily. Chise smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I did," she replied, "Very much. I wish you'd had the chance to know him. He'd be so proud of you."

"Will you tell me the story, Mommy?" Phoenix asked, "Of how you and Daddy met?"

Chise paused to think about this, and realized she had never told Phoenix that story. Maybe it was time she knew....

"Sure, sweetie," Chise replied. She nestled into a comfortable position next to Elias' tombstone, and patted her lap for Phoenix to join her.

Phoenix sat down on her mother's lap, smiling excitedly.
"You see," Chise began, recalling the events that led up to her meeting Elias, "Mommy had a really hard start to life, and Daddy saved me. It all started when...."


CREDITS:
•Profile designed and coded by Yuzu.
•Wallpaper designed by Yuzu.
•Story written by Yuzu.
•This short story is purely fan fiction.
•All Mahoutsukai no Yome/
The Ancient Magus' Bride images and characters © their respective owners.
•The characters Elias Ainsworth and Chise © Kore Yamazaki.
•The anime of the same name, and the provided images © Production I.G. and Wit Studios.
•Photoshop Brushes © Obsidian Dawn.
•The fan fiction characters of Thorn, Fae, Lin, and Phoenix were imagined by Yuzu.